China's Air Force on High Alert, Sends Warplanes into Air-Defense Zone

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

BEIJING (AP) — The state news agency is reporting that China has sent warplanes into its newly declared maritime air defense zone.

Image source: CNN

The flights Thursday came after South Korean and Japanese flights through the zone added to the international defiance of rules Beijing says it has imposed in the East China Sea.

China's air force spokesman Shen Jinke says several fighter jets and an early warning aircraft were sent on normal air patrols in the zone Thursday. He was quoted by the state news agency Xinhua.

Shen described the flights as "a defensive measure and in line with international common practices." He said China's air force would remain on high alert and will take measures to protect the country's airspace.

China said Wednesday it monitored two unarmed U.S. bombers that flew over the East China Sea in defiance of Beijing’s declaration it is exercising greater military control over the area, the AP noted.

Tuesday’s flight of the B-52 bombers underscored U.S. assertions that it will not comply with Chinese demands that aircraft flying through its newly declared maritime air defense zone identify themselves and accept Chinese instructions, the AP added.

Here's a report from CNN:

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